Radio Campaign Towards the Social Dialogue and Integration of Peuls in the Mouhoun Region

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CEMECA, Radio Salaki, Burkina Faso

Partner

CEMECA is the executing institution of a community-based NGO called SALAKI. SALAKI/CEMECA is located in Dedougou, in the northwest of Burkina Faso. This region, called “La Boucle du Mouhoun”, consists of five provinces. 
CEMECA started operations in October 2005, as a multimedia centre including animation activities on social
issues in the villages of the region, a cyber centre and video production. A radio station called Radio Salaki was set up in October 2007. CEMECA also organises training at three levels, which include internet literacy for the local population, informatics and basic communication skills, and, at both national and international levels, video production and broadcasting, focusing on “community radio stations”. CEMECA is a founding member of Mediafrica.Net, a resource website for African community radio stations and media practitioners, also conducting e-learning courses for African community broadcasters and media practitioners, combining distant learning and local workshops.

Previous support from SvA

In the recent past, SvA accepted two proposals submitted by CEMECA/Radio Salaki: 

  • In June 2008, SvA allocated an urgent subsidy of EUR 15,332 towards replacing the mast at Radio Salaki, which had been destroyed by a storm on June 12th, 2008. As the station had used its own resources to fully finance its recent launch, CEMECA had no financial capacities for rebuilding the mast. Thanks to the support from SvA, transmission was only interrupted for three months. Reports were provided in September 2008.
  • In 2009, SvA allocated a grant of EUR 13,900 as a contribution to an e-learning programme for community radio stations in Western Africa. The programme was named DIRPRO3 (“Direction des programmes – third promotion”) and consisted of four five-week modules, covering the entire range of the required skills for local and community radio station staff: management, programming and audience survey, production and technical operation, plus a workshop on audience research, conducted in Dedougou. The programme was intended to last one year (September 2009 to August 2010), but was extended to 18 months. Fifteen radios were supposed to be enrolled, but finally only ten participated in the full programme. Narrative and financial reports were submitted in a satisfactory way.

Project background

CEMECA/Radio Salaki intends to contribute to the social dialogue and integration of Peuls in the “Boucle du Mouhoun” region. Peuls, who are nomadic people, are scattered all over the country and belong to an ethnic group widely neglected and subjected to discrimination. They also have their own customs, cultural habits and attitudes, and are not open for social dialogue. Due to their nomadic traditions, they do not enrol their children in school, or use dispensaries, etc. The relations between Peuls and other groups are volatile, easily resulting in violent ethnic clashes. The Peuls have become more settled in the fertile region of Boucle du Mouhoun, leading to even more friction with other ethnic groups in the villages.

Project objective

Implementing a multimedia and interactive strategy, CEMECA/Radio Salaki intends to contribute to social dialogue between the various ethnic groups, as well as to better social integration of Peul families at all levels. 

Beneficiaries and expected results

  • Peul families in the region will be better integrated in the villages and society. School attendance levels will rise, as will adult literacy and the use of dispensaries, etc.
  • Thanks to greater mutual knowledge amongst the Peuls and other ethnic groups, CEMECA intends to boost the image of the Peuls within the society, and to increase mutual respect among ethnic groups. Therefore, the integration of the Peuls will be improved and social peace reinforced, preventing possible violence.
  • Thanks to the programme, if implemented, CEMECA plans a lobbying action with the local authority towards paying more attention to these social issues.

Actions and schedule

Being aware of the risks of social violence, CEMECA had already started some initiatives in a few villages, using its own means and resources. Thanks to the financial support requested from SvA, CEMECA intends to expand these initiatives in 25 villages, namely in 5 villages targeted in each of the 5 provinces in the Boucle du Mouhoun” region.

Outputs and activities

  • Production of 12 talk shows (one per month)
  • Production of 12 public programmes in the villages (one per month)
  • Organisation and animation of 5 “open broadcast days”: one in each province, combining public radio programmes, local art exhibitions, symbolic action (Peace Tree), etc.
  • Production of 5 radio magazines
  • Production of 5 micro-programmes
  • Video/cine animation and public discussion in 25 villages, plus feedback programme on the radio
  • Production of 12 interviews (one per month) with resource people and local authorities
  • In each village, a community listeners’ club will be formed with a special focus and role: each group will consist of no less than 5 people (with gender balance), including at least one member of Peul origin. These people will visit Peul families, communicating between the village and the radio for news, reports or warnings, etc. The members of these groups will be trained on the social dialogue issue, and be constantly accompanied by social workers from CEMECA.
  • Three local radio stations will be part of the programme, in particular for rebroadcasting the radio programmes and interacting with CEMECA.
  • All the radio programmes will be in the three main local languages, including Peul/Fulfulde.